Corporation Asked Ministry Whether To Fly Or Ground The Chinese Aircraft
At present, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has 7 aircraft in its fleet. Among which 2 aircraft Xian MA-60 and Harbin Y12e are Chinese aircraft. NAC had signed an agreement with china on November 28, 2013 to buy two MA-60 and four Y12e from china for which NAC needed to pay 3720000000 NRS out of 6670000000. Till now, china had delivered one MA-60 and one y12e to NAC. The present status of those aircraft are very deteriorating and are being burden to NAC instead of improving financial conditions. NAC has been compelled to pay high insurance premium for those Chinese aircraft. It has been reported that china made NAC compel to pay higher amount for spareparts, pilot training and so on.
On Monday, NAC Managing Director (MD) Ramhari Sharma spoke to Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation to show them path whether to fly or ground those Chinese aircraft. But no one of ministry could respond to MD Sharma. Government of Nepal isn’t paying attention to trouble and problem of NAC. During previously held meeting between Chinese party and NAC, NAC had complained that both Chinese aircraft aren’t being able to carry all the passengers according to their seating capacity, Chinese company were being late to provide them spareparts on time and so on.
According to the sources, MA-60 can conduct its flight to airports of Terai region with all 56 passengers onboard but it can’t takeoff with all passengers onboard from airports of Terai region due to payload. They must vacant 10 seats for takeoff. The runway length of Terai airports are not sufficient for MA-60 and needs to be extend whereas it is sufficient for Buddha Air’s ATR 42 and ATR 72 as well as Saurya Airlines CRJ-200. Harbin y12e is also not being able to conduct its flight to mountainous region airport.
